Spring clip

ABSTRACT

A spring clip comprising a spring wire wound generally circularly back and forth about an axis to form a series of parallel loops having the same axis. The loops are joined together at mouths thereof by interconnection portions of the wire which alternate between left and right sides of the loops. The loops have shank portions at the mouths thereof which, when spread, squeeze together due to the spring action of the loops. Thus, the loops can be slipped onto the rim of a container such as a trash can to hold the mouth of a bag on the rim.

United States Patent [1 1 Mauritz Dec. 25, 1973 SPRING CLIP [21] Appl. N0.: 171,516

[52] US. Cl. 24/261 D, 24/81 C, 24/139.l [51] Int. Cl A44b 21/00 [58] Field of Search 24/261 R, 261 D,

24/73 CF, 73 CC; 243 K, 261 CF, 261 CS, 24/81 C, 81WR, 261 WC, 257 R, 257 A, 24/256, 259 FS, 81 FF, 139,139.]; 220/95, 65; 248/101; 160/402 Van Der Elst 24/261 Powell 24/261 D Primary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay Assistant Examiner-Kenneth J. Dorner Atr0rneyJohn H. Oltman [57] ABSTRACT A spring clip comprising a spring wire wound generally circularly back and forth about an axis to form a series of parallel loops having the same axis. The loops are joined together at mouths thereof by interconnection portions of the wire which alternate between left and right sidesof the loops. The loops have shank portions at the mouths thereof which, when spread, squeeze together due to the spring action of the loops Thus, the loops can be slipped onto the rim of a container such as a trash can to hold the mouth of a bag on the rim.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PAIENTED 3. 780.403

INVENTOR. FRANK A. MAURITZ JOHN H. OLTMAN ATTORNEY SPRING CLIP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to spring clips, and particularly to a clip for holding the mouth of a bag on the rim of a container such as a trash container.

The invention provides a spring clip having parallel wire loops which have a common axis. The loops have mouths aligned with each other enabling the clip to be slipped on the rim of a container. The loops have wire portions at the mouths joining each loop to the next loop, with the interconnecting wire portions alternating between left and right sides of the loops. The spring clip is particularly useful in holding a bag on the rim of a container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a spring clip in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

F IG. 2 is an elevational view, partly cut away, showing the spring clip of FIG. 1 applied to the rim ofa container to hold the mouth of a bag on the rim;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the container showing the spring clip on the rim;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlargement of a portion of the plan view of FIG. 3 showing a portion of the spring clip and a portion of the bag.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The spring clip consists of a spring wire 12 which is wound to form generally circular loops 14 which are parallel to each other and have a common axis 16. Each loop has a pair of shank portions 18 and 20 abutting each other at the base of the loop. The shank portions 18 and 20 form a mouth for the loop. The pairs of shank portions 18 and 20 are aligned with each other along the length of the clip.

As shown in F IG. 4, the shank portions 18 and 20 are spreadable to slip onto the rim of a container 22. The spreading of the shank portions is illustrated particularly in FIG. 4. The spring clip is placed above the rim 21 of the container, which may be an ordinary trash can, with the mouth of each loop resting on the rim 21. The spring clip is then pushed down, and as the rim 21 enters between the shank portions 18 and 20, these portions are spread apart as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4. As the clip is pressed further down on the container, the rim 21 enters the circular loops l4 and the shank portions 18 and 20 squeeze together.

The purpose in applying the spring clip to the rim of a container is to hold the mouth of a bag 24 on the rim 21 of the container. The mouth of the bag is draped over the rim 21, the bags mouth terminating at 25.

Thus, the spring clip grips the mouth of the bag on both sides of the container 22 and presses it against the wall of the container to hold it firmly in place.

The spring clip may extend all the way around the rim of a container as shown particularly in FIG. 3, the ends of the clip being located at 26 and 28. It is apparent, however, that several shorter clips could be applied to a single container, and such shorter clips might be of about the length shown in FIG. 1. In this case, it would not be necessary to have the clips extend continuously along the rim of a container since perhaps only two or three clips would be needed.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, it may be seen that each shank portion, such as the end shank portion 20 in FIG. 1, is interconnected to the next adjoining shank portion by an interconnecting wire portion 30. These wire portions 30 bend around from one shank portion to the next. It may be seen in FIGS. 1 and 5 that the interconnecting bend portions 30 alternate between the left and right sides of the loops. Thus, although the loops are parallel to each other and are perpendicular to the axis of the clip rather than at an angle as in a coil spring, the loops are joined by interconnecting portions 30 which alternate between the left and right sides of the clip.

Thus, the invention provides a simple clip which is particularly useful in retaining the mouth of a bag on the rim of a container such as a trash can. The clip can be made in almost any length desired. It is made of economical spring wire, and may be wound automatically.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A spring clip for securing the mouth of a bag to the top of a container, said spring clip comprising a continuous spring wire wound in successive, generally circular loops which are parallel to each other and have a common axis, each loop having opposite reversely curved shank portions which curve downward from the loop and inward toward each other into substantially abutting relationship with each other at the base of the loop and then continue downward and outward away from each other to provide oppositely facing concave lower ends on opposite sides of the loop, pairs of said shank portions being aligned in confronting relationship with each other with the shank portions of each pair being spreadable apart transverse to said common axis to slip on the rim of a container and then squeezing together due to the resiliency of the spring wire to hold the mouth of a bag on the rim of the container, said spring wire having shank-interconnecting, bent portions, each extending transversely outward from the outwardly curved lower ends of the shank portions of neighboring loops and joining the shank portion of one loop to the shank portion of a neighboring loop, said shank-interconnecting portions in succession along the length of said spring wire being disposed alternately on opposite side of the loops.

2. A spring clip according to claim 1, wherein each of said shank-interconnecting portions is generally U- shaped lengthwise along the clip.

3. A spring clip according to claim 2, wherein each of said U-shaped shank-interconnecting portions extends laterally outward from said common axis substantially as far as the loops which it interconnects. 

1. A spring clip for securing the mouth of a bag to the top of a container, said spring clip comprising a continuous spring wire wound in successive, generally circular loops which are parallel to each other and have a common axis, each loop having opposite reversely curved shank portions which curve downward from the loop and inward toward each other into substantially abutting relationship with each other at the base of the loop and then continue downward and outward away from each other to provide oppositely facing concave lower ends on opposite sides of the loop, pairs of said shank portions being aligned in confronting relationship with each other with the shank portions of each pair being spreadable apart transverse to said common axis to slip on the rim of a container and then squeezing together due to the resiliency of the spring wire to hold the mouth of a bag on the rim of the container, said spring wire having shankinterconnecting, bent portions, each extending transversely outward from the outwardly curved lower ends of the shank portions of neighboring loops and joining the shank portion of one loop to the shank portion of a neighboring loop, said shankinterconnecting portions in succession along the length of said spring wire being disposed alternately on opposite side of the loops.
 2. A spring clip according to claim 1, wherein each of said shank-interconnecting portions is generally U-shaped lengthwise along the clip.
 3. A spring clip according to claim 2, wherein each of said U-shaped shank-interconnecting portions extends laterally outward from said common axis substantially as far as the loops which it interconnects. 